Lock-down Day 97

I had quite a disturbing dream in the early hours of this morning, where I was surreptitiously being replaced ... I can't tell whether it was at work, at home (as tenant), or in my game Fellowship. I think it's my worry over the work meeting tomorrow ...

Mippies rushed out quite happily, as I got up before seven this morning! I think mippies are trying to help me provide for them. They've noticed they are getting fewer treats in the evenings, so they're now bringing in mice all day long! I just got bitten by their latest catch! Sigh. Bit of a mission to clean one hand with only one other hand, put on something to prevent infection and then put on a plaster. But I managed.

I also solved two of the smoking challenges: I've found that receipts work beautifully as paper - not ideal, but they work. And I've made my own rolling machine. Just take a strip of paper, stick it to a surface on one end (edge of the table, for example) and to a pen or other round, rolling object on the other end. I simply use Pritt to glue it. First cigarette was a little too thin - I used tobacco from the starter kit, so it was also a little strong. But it works. I've made progress.

I knew I shouldn't have looked at the news! There's talk of 'going back' to the 'hard lock down'! Firstly, how will we make any progress, if we 'go back'? And secondly: WHAT FOR? The purpose of the lock down was to give government time to prepare ... We're on Day 97! Whatever isn't ready, won't EVER be ready! They've completely lost the plot! Some of them actually seem to still be under the misapprehension that they are saving lives! Have they not yet grasped that the lock down is killing more people than the virus would have, had we not locked down at all?

We all know why the EFF want to go back: There are still some white business operating. They think that this lock-down is THE solution to get rid of all whites in South Africa. Nobody can possibly believe the continuation of the lock down has ANYTHING to do with the corona virus! Not when you weigh the loss of livelihoods against the infections. 51 % of South Africans are food insecure - of a population of 

58 780 000 (Stats from a year ago)

29 977 800 are now food insecure, compared to

       75 009 confirmed cases = 0.13%

And government has stopped any payment to those, still at home. Which means the number of people going hungry will increase! And to top all that: they can't even pay their own employees!

Let me crawl back into my own little corner. I've unpacked the chicken hearts and put them on a baking sheet in the freezer - they are quite ... juicy? Grin, that sounds appetizing, but I mean they contain a lot of liquid, which makes vacuum packing them very messy. So I pre-freeze them - just enough to avoid the mess. I've cut up the liver, which is now soaking in milk. Next, I'll just vacuum pack all the meat I bought on Monday.

I'm also making bread - brown bread this time! One for At, one for me - though, for me, I think I'll make rolls again.

The Presidency has announced an 'imbizo' which I gather means 'Question & Answer Session' or something along those lines. At 6 ... tonight. Should I watch or should I stick my head in the sand?

Well, it's four now - I'm wondering whether I should fry my dinner or have another go at making cigarettes?

I've fried dinner and then had another go at making cigarettes. Dinner was lovely, the cigarette ... well, firstly this one was too thick and secondly it wouldn't burn. Too dry, I think. So I've sprayed the tobacco with a bit of mist - now it'll be too wet, I'm sure!

I had decided to wait, before ordering more leaves. Two reasons: first, I wanted to make sure I can turn them into something smokeable - once I've got that right, I can play around to make it nice and to my taste. And second, I wanted to wait until after the work meeting tomorrow ... although now, I'm wondering why? It's not going to make a difference, is it? Even if I'm told "no income for you" - I'll still need something to smoke. These past 3 months have proved that! Well, I'm hoping one more day won't make a difference to me, so I'll wait.

When I went to call mippies in, they had a mouse! Try calling cats for a treat when they're busy playing with their own treat! The mouse ran into the chicken cage, where mippies can't get to it - they sat around pawing the fence! Ziva was the first to come running home, when I called 'munchies' Mewthos followed at top speed. Mini also showed up as I was dishing up. As is currently usual, Lady Jane was the last - making me wait again. Not very long, though!

Well, I watched the Q&A - which was pretty flat ... not much of substance discussed. I pottered with the tobacco while I listened. Mini was very interested in what I'm doing! Afterwards, I updated the game spreadsheet again, with Ziva's head poking out of the shelf demanding scratches! On and on and on! And when she was finally happy, Mewthos tried his luck - but by then, I was just too tired ... I've done all that needed doing, now I'm ready for bed. I had hoped to get at least one cigarette rolled, but I guess it'll have to wait until tomorrow. At least I have a tub of tobacco ready for rolling!

The reason I wanted to have some rolled cigarettes was, so I could give some to At - but then I realised I can give him the tobacco as is! I'm sure he can roll his own - probably better than I can! Silly not to have thought of that earlier, eh?

Right, now for bed. Let's hope tomorrow won't be too much of a shock! I'm stressing, of course.